Homework 10th September

 

British Social Realism – From Documentary to Brit Grit by Samantha Lay

1 Social Realism in the British Context

 

Realism or ‘realisms’

What are the problems with the phrasal term “social realism”?

The problem with the phrase social realism is that that film critics use it indiscriminately which means they use the phrase without care which makes it hard to get to the actual meaning of the phrase.

 

What is the critical consensus about “realism

In the western world the critical consensus is that realism is the dominant representational form (The main style of reprensentation in the western world)

 

What factors helped to create the context within which the realist impulse first developed?

The impulse towards realism first developed when thousands of workers moved from country to city to feed the growing infrastructure in Britain. New political ideas of communism and socialism emerged to provide an answer for the working classes created by industrial revolution. (scientific observation and hypothesis)

 

 

What was the development of realism in the nineteenth century?

Debates centred around literature and from these discussions was it termed “critical realism” developed(realism was a form of representation in opposition wanted change)

Changing something so it is no longer under the control or influence of religion

 

What is Carroll’s suggestion?

Carroll’s suggestion was that the term ‘social realism’ should only be used with a prefix attached

Realism and the cinema

Describe the development of realism in the arts at the end of the nineteenth century.

Realism in the arts developed, by the end of the nineteenth century, photography and film had chosen to follow the ideas of realism in many different styles and forms.

 

What new possibilities did photography bring?

The possibilities that photography brought were to capture life in the moment and to bring the sense of ‘life as it is lived’

What was the common quest shared by all media?

Even thought media was used to look for what was real, the common quest shared by all media is to present reality or the truth.

What is the problem with Truth?

The problem with trying to show truth was that there are many sides to it and the audience may have different opinions to what truth actually is and they are the people who decide whether they think it is true or not( the truth has lot of perspective.)

What did Kracauer believe and what did his ideas about realism in film have in common with Zola’s about naturalism?

Kracauer believed that fully was capable of showing the real and could do so with using as little deception as possible.

What did Gerhardie believe to be the goal of naturalism?

Gerhardie believed the goal of naturalism was to relive the illusion of real life using all the things involved in day to day life.

Describe Bazin’s arguments

Bazin argued that realism should provide enough room for the audience to realise their own realities within realist film and argued that techniques such as like long takes should allow space for them to think about the realism of the text(realism changes every generation)

What do all of these approaches commonly seek?

All of the approaches aim to show the truth through codes and conventions that have been associated with realism.

How do Branston and Stafford differentiate between the “realistic” nature of a Hollywood film and other “realist” texts?

Branston and Stafford recognize the difference between the realistic nature of Hollywood film and other realist texts by making sure the film maker has aimed to capture the event written. next, the film maker must also have a argument or message to convey about the social world and make use of realist conventions to express this message or argument.(capture the realism of actual events)

 

Defining social realism

Why is social realism so difficult to define?

Social realism is difficult to define because it is both politically and historically dependent.

How according to Hill are current realist texts linked to those from the past?

The current realist texts are linked to the realist texts from the past by changes taking place with reasoning with what has gone before, under writing their own appeal to be revealing reality by showing the assumed of what has passed for reality before.

What does Samantha Lay say is a key feature of realist texts?

An important feature of realist texts is the way character and place are connected in order to consider some aspects of 'contemporary life in alike way to naturalism.'

How do Hallam and Marshment explain this defining characteristic?

Hallam and Marshment explain this defining characteristic as a discursive term used to describe films that aim to show the effects of environmental factors on the growth of character through depictions that highlight the relationship between location and character(social realism and discussion) 

How does Lowenstein see social realism?

Lowenstein sees social realism as being linked with moments of the occurring social crisis

 

What are Raymond Williams’ four criteria for defining realist texts?

He first says that realist texts are secular. The next is that realist texts are grounded  in the modern scene in terms of setting, character and social problems, the third is the problem of social exclusion. Finally the fourth criteria is the focusing on the intention of the artist.